Hi there! My name is Tamara Markel and after having a job for two years, I’ve started to master the art of shopping productively. While I was surviving with online school, I found myself having tons of spare time…almost too much free time. When one is bored, the most logical thing to do is pull up the website of your favourite store, and start scrolling! While I might not have a car and BC transit seldom runs on schedule, having a bus pass really opens up tons of new shopping opportunities (that your parents don’t have to drive you to!) Personally, I find shopping under pressure (the pressure being my dad impatiently waiting for me to FINALLY collect the clothes I want to try on) unsatisfying, and having free time to browse as I please is really a luxury.
Now, the pandemic has changed things a little bit (A LOT!), but online shopping can sometimes be such a hassle with extra shipping costs, trying to find your exact measurements just so that pair of jeans fits you to the T, and having to deal with the anticipatory game of ‘Will it show up tonight or tomorrow?’ can just be too much at once. Instead, while the restrictions are looser, in person shopping seems to be the thing to do. Please be sure to wear a mask while anywhere in public. If one thing is more important than fashion, it’s staying safe.
Without further ado, I present to you, The Best Tips for Clothes Shopping during a Pandemic.
Number 1: Be Prepared
Going shopping can be an all-day activity, at least for me it is! Make sure you plan your transit route so that you can navigate your way to the shopping location with minimal delays. I especially recommend to bring a small backpack to hold everything, I end up using my Fjallraven Kanken Mini for the job. I always make sure to bring with me either a spray sanitizer or a simple Bath and BodyWorks pocket gel. In my bag, I throw my portable charger, wallet, a reusable filled up water bottle, and any light snacks.
The Fjallraven Mini Kanken backpack is a necessity for shopping, it’s just the right size to bring essentials
Number 2: Know your size!
Since some stores have their change rooms closed, namely Urban Outfitters or Brandy Melville, make sure you know your measurements. This is the same predicament you’ll meet while online shopping, yet it’s a little easier since you can judge the clothes in person. If you’re going to a store that’s far away and you don’t plan on making weekly trips to, sometimes it’s easier to pick an alternate store to buy from (a store with the changing rooms open), or to just simply make a judgement call. You can either go on the safe side for shirts and jackets and go a size up, but pants shopping is risky business.
Number 3: Be patient!
The Vancouver Brandy Melville storefront
Since the pandemic started, stores have been limiting the amount of occupants inside at a single time, meaning that lineups will form. I find that arriving at the store as it opens will minimize the waiting time, so be ready to be standing for a long time! The longest I’ve ever waited was 1 hr and 30 minutes for the Brandy Melville Vancouver location, but it was definitely worth it.